Revelation 17:8 kjv
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 17:8 nkjv
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 17:8 niv
The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
Revelation 17:8 esv
The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
Revelation 17:8 nlt
The beast you saw was once alive but isn't now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died.
Revelation 17 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 13:1 | And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads... | Introduction of the first beast, its nature. |
| Rev 13:3 | ...and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. | World's worship and wonder at the beast. |
| Rev 1:4 | ...Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come... | God's unchanging nature contrasts the beast's. |
| Rev 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” | Further emphasizes God's eternal sovereignty. |
| Rev 4:8 | Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! | The ultimate truth of God's existence. |
| Rev 9:1-2 | And I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth. And he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit... | The abyss as a source of destructive power. |
| Rev 11:7 | When they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the abyss will make war on them... | The beast's origin from the abyss is repeated. |
| Rev 20:1-3 | Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a great chain... cast him into the abyss... | The abyss as a place of confinement for Satan. |
| Lk 8:31 | They begged him not to order them to depart into the abyss. | Demons' fear of the abyss. |
| 2 Thess 2:3 | ...the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction... | The Antichrist's destined destruction. |
| Phil 3:19 | Their end is destruction, their god is their stomach... | The destiny of those focused on worldly things. |
| Rev 3:5 | The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life... | Assurance of salvation for the faithful. |
| Rev 13:8 | And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. | Directly parallels the verse's "Book of Life" concept. |
| Rev 20:15 | And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. | Final judgment based on the Book of Life. |
| Rev 21:27 | But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. | Entry into New Jerusalem requires a name in the Book of Life. |
| Ex 32:32-33 | But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written. ... Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book. | Concept of a book containing names of the living/righteous. |
| Ps 69:28 | Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. | A wish for the unrighteous to be excluded. |
| Lk 10:20 | Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. | Believer's ultimate joy from divine inscription. |
| Eph 1:4 | even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love. | God's election "before the foundation of the world". |
| 1 Pet 1:20 | He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake. | Christ's predetermined role before creation. |
| Jn 17:12 | While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction... | Foreshadows those destined for destruction. |
| 1 Jn 2:19 | They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. | Implies a distinction between genuine and nominal believers. |
| Rev 16:2 | So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. | Distinction between earth-dwellers who worship the beast and God's people. |
Revelation 17 verses
Revelation 17 8 Meaning
Revelation 17:8 describes the enigmatic nature and ultimate fate of the beast, as well as the bewildered response of those on earth who reject God. The beast is characterized by a paradoxical cycle of existence, temporary disappearance, and re-emergence from the abyss, destined for final destruction. Its miraculous appearance causes profound astonishment among humanity, specifically those whose names were never inscribed in God's eternal "Book of Life," signaling their lack of salvation and their allegiance to the worldly system it represents.
Revelation 17 8 Context
Revelation 17 delves into the judgment of "Babylon the Great," described as a harlot riding the scarlet beast. Verse 8 provides a profound description of this beast, shedding light on its nature, origin, and destiny, as well as the identification of its worshipers. This description is key to understanding the beast's anti-divine character and its role in end-time events. Historically, commentators often connect the beast to imperial Rome, particularly the "Nero redivivus" myth, where the belief persisted that Emperor Nero, who committed suicide, would return. The "was, and is not, and will come" phrase resonated strongly with this historical anxiety for John's original audience facing Roman persecution. However, the spiritual meaning transcends a single historical figure, pointing to an ongoing satanic power structure throughout history that opposes God and deceives humanity.
Revelation 17 8 Word analysis
- The beast (τὸ θηρίον - to thērion): Refers to the terrifying anti-God power introduced in Rev 13. "Thērion" literally means a wild animal, often signifying something brutal, dangerous, and uncivilized, directly contrasting human order or divine peace.
- that you saw (ὃ εἶδες - ho eides): Links back to the vision of the beast in Rev 13, establishing continuity in John's apocalyptic narrative. It emphasizes the reality of the vision to the seer.
- was (ἦν - ēn): Indicates its past existence or a period of activity. Implies a historical manifestation.
- and is not (καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν - kai ouk estin): Signifies a present non-existence or dormancy, a period where its visible power or manifestation is suppressed or seemingly absent.
- and is about to come up (καὶ μέλλει ἀναβαίνειν - kai mellei anabainein): Points to an imminent future re-emergence or a resurgence of its power. "Mellei" denotes strong certainty of future occurrence.
- out of the abyss (ἐκ τῆς ἀβύσσου - ek tēs abyssou): The abyss (ἄβυσσος - abyssos) is consistently depicted as a bottomless pit, a prison for demons and a source of destructive evil powers. Its origin from here indicates its demonic, hellish nature and satanic empowerment (cf. Lk 8:31, Rev 9:1-2, Rev 11:7).
- and go to destruction (καὶ εἰς ἀπώλειαν ὑπάγει - kai eis apōleian hypagei): "Apōleian" (ἀπώλεια) means perdition or ruin. This reveals its ultimate, irreversible fate. Despite its power, its destiny is utter ruin, a final demise, not simply a cycle of re-emergence.
- And those who dwell on the earth (καὶ θαυμασθήσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς - kai thaumasthēsontai hoi katoikountes epi tēs gēs): A specific group of people mentioned throughout Revelation (e.g., Rev 3:10, 6:10, 8:13, 11:10). This term denotes those whose allegiances, focus, and destiny are earthly rather than heavenly. They are often antagonistic to God's people.
- whose names have not been written (ὧν οὐ γέγραπται τὰ ὀνόματα - hōn ou gegraptai ta onomata): Emphasizes exclusion. The use of "γεγραπται" (gegraptai), a perfect passive participle, means "have stood written," indicating a firm, predetermined, and permanent record.
- in the book of life (ἐν τῇ βίβλῳ τῆς ζωῆς - en tē biblō tēs zōēs): A heavenly registry containing the names of the redeemed. It signifies eternal salvation and fellowship with God (cf. Phil 4:3, Rev 20:15).
- from the foundation of the world (ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου - apo katabolēs kosmou): Highlights God's eternal foresight and predestination. Their exclusion from the Book of Life was determined by God's foreknowledge of their choices and his eternal plan (cf. Eph 1:4).
- will wonder (θαυμασθήσονται - thaumasthēsontai): To marvel, be astonished, or be captivated by admiration (cf. Rev 13:3). Their wonder suggests a mixture of awe, fear, and ultimate worship, leading to deception and allegiance.
- when they see the beast, because it was, and is not, and will come (βλέποντες τὸ θηρίον, ὅτι ἦν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν καὶ παρέσται - blepontes to thērion, hoti ēn kai ouk estin kai paresai): This repeats the paradoxical description, emphasizing that it is this very cycle of reappearance that astounds them. "Paresai" (παρέσται), derived from "pareimi," means "it will be present" or "will come," reinforcing the certainty of its future return.
Words-group analysis
- "was, and is not, and is about to come up / will come": This phrase is a deliberate satanic parody of God's attribute in Rev 1:4, 8 and 4:8: "who is and who was and who is to come." God's existence is constant and eternal; the beast's is cyclical, temporary, and dependent on a source outside itself (the abyss), reflecting a pseudo-omnipotence. It also hints at the 'Nero Redivivus' myth but is ultimately a timeless theological truth about deceptive evil power structures.
- "out of the abyss and go to destruction": These phrases highlight the beast's source and its destiny. Origin from the abyss signifies its demonic nature and rebellion against God, while its destination to "destruction" asserts God's ultimate sovereignty and victory over all opposing powers.
- "And those who dwell on the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world": This clearly distinguishes two groups of humanity: the "earth-dwellers" who are alienated from God's eternal plan and will follow the beast, versus the saints whose names are recorded in the Book of Life (heaven-dwellers). It underscores themes of divine sovereignty, foreknowledge, and ultimate choice or rejection. The phrase "from the foundation of the world" emphasizes that salvation and condemnation are part of God's timeless design.
Revelation 17 8 Bonus section
The repetitive nature of "was, and is not, and will come" (or similar phrasing like "is about to come up") emphasizes a core paradox associated with the beast's identity. This repetition is not mere literary style; it is a theological statement. While God's existence is stable and ever-present, the beast's existence is unstable, episodic, and a mockery of true deity. The world marvels at this cyclical appearance, mistaking satanic power for true resurrection or miraculous intervention. This delusion underlines humanity's spiritual blindness without the light of God's truth. The "book of life" serves as a counterpoint to the beast's temporary rule; it signifies God's sovereign and eternal registry of true citizens, a reality far more enduring than any earthly empire or evil entity. The very permanence of the names "from the foundation of the world" contrasts with the beast's fleeting, though powerful, reign leading inevitably to destruction.
Revelation 17 8 Commentary
Revelation 17:8 provides a crucial spiritual profile of the antichristian beastly system or leader. Its three-part description ("was, and is not, and will come") encapsulates a satanic counterfeit of divine timelessness, portraying an entity whose power appears to vanish then resurface, thus deceiving many. Its origin from the "abyss" emphasizes its infernal, demonic empowering, revealing it as an instrument of ultimate evil. However, despite its awe-inspiring emergence, its fixed destiny is "destruction," assuring believers of God's ultimate victory. The focus on those "whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world" reveals that spiritual allegiance is pre-ordained by divine foreknowledge, indicating that the world's fascination with the beast stems from a pre-existing separation from God's saving grace. Their "wondering" signifies deep deception and submission, not holy reverence. The verse strongly contrasts God's eternal, unwavering truth with the deceptive, temporary, yet terrifying power of evil destined for eradication.